Rodeo Volunteers Needed

For the Trail Gazette-Estes Park Western Heritage

Posted:
06/10/2014 03:45:22 PM MDT

No, this does not mean volunteers to ride bucking stock. Actually, Ester Park Western Heritage, the organization that supports the Rooftop Rodeo, the Western Heritage Youth Scholarship program and the youth Royalty program are looking for volunteers to help in these and other events. There is a wide range of volunteer activities in which to participate.The following are examples:

During the Rooftop Rodeo

This is a nationally recognized, professional rodeo-July 8-13, 2014.

Advertisement

·Beverage Sales. You do not have to be a professional bartender to work here. However, if you are TIPS trained and would like to serve beers you get extra volunteer dollars J Actually, we need folks to check ID's, work as cashiers, and pour beers as well as serve them (Servers must be 21 years old and TIPS trained). We will have beer sales at all of the EPWH events.

·Hospitality. Because of the generosity of some of Estes Park's very best restaurants, we feed our professional cowboys and cowgirls the best food Estes has to offer. Western Heritage Volunteers are needed as welcome hosts, servers, and bus personnel. You need to come with a great smile, friendly words, and a desire to make our competitors and guests feel at home.

·House Management. Here we need Western Heritage Volunteers in ticket sales, as ticket takers, and as ushers. Familiarity with electronic cash registers and credit card machines would be helpful but these skills can be taught to you in five minutes. The primary skills for house management personnel are a friendly smile and knowledge of the grandstand layout. You bring the smile and we will teach you the grandstand layout.

·Merchandise Sales. We have really nice products that whole families enjoy so this is a great place to work if you enjoy visiting with folks and can make change. As with ticket sales we will train you to handle the electronic credit card equipment.

·Parade. The Rooftop Rodeo Parade starts at 10:30 on the first day (Tuesday)of Rodeo week. Western Heritage Volunteers are needed as road guards and this only requires your ability to stand on your feet for a little over two hours and wave cars down the road. If you have experience with public speaking and feel comfortable reading a parade script over a microphone you could be used as a parade route announcer. We also need folks to judge the parade entries.

·Parking. This is a fun job and really important because our parking folks are the very first persons our patrons see when they come to the rodeo. Of course you collect the $5.00 parking fee but the hidden agenda here is to help people know they have brought their families to a really great night of excitement and entertainment.

During Professional Bull Riders (PBR).

Two nights of the toughest sport on dirt-July 4 & 5, 2014

·Western Heritage Volunteers are needed in Beverage Sales, Hospitality, House Management, Merchandise Sales, and Parking as described in the Rooftop Rodeo section above.

During the “Beat the Heat” Barrel Race Series

Lots of horses/Lots of fun.

·There are two barrel race weekends each summer. In 2014 the first was on May 31 and June 1 and the second will be September 13-14. In this competition we have top level professional racers and brand new first time racers; adults and children, so the competition takes on a relaxed family feel. Western Heritage Volunteers are needed on the ground to do everything from flipping hamburgers to working stock gates. Wear sun screen, comfortable shoes, and watch where you step. Folks who work the barrel race tend to keep coming back-it is a lot of fun.

During EPWH Foundation Special Events

·Do you like fundraising? We need your help! The Foundation (EPWHF) is the public charity side of EPWH. Its sole purpose is to raise funds to support activities that preserve and promote the Western Heritage of the Estes Valley. At this time these activities include Estes Park Western Heritage, Inc., the Western Heritage Youth Royalty Program, and the Western Heritage Youth Scholarship Program. As the resources of the Foundation grow, these philanthropies will be expanded to other Estes Valley organizations that have, as part of their mission, the preservation and promotion of the Western heritage of the Estes Valley.

·Eventually, primary funding for the Foundation will come from private and public donors, and grants. However, in its initial developmental stages the Foundation will be relying on fund raising events to build its financial giving capability. This is where Western Heritage Volunteers are needed. In 2015, in addition to Rodeo, PBR, and Barrel racing, two major programs will be put in place: First, a Western Art Show and secondly an Antique and Western Collectables Show. Both of these programs are planned for the last weekend of May 2015 (May 29-31). If you have any experience and or interest in either of these areas your opportunity to volunteer is waiting for you. On the show dates we will need workers in security, show set up and takedown, ticket sales, hospitality, special entertainment, etc.

So other than working with fun people while supporting great causes what does a volunteer receive? Check out the following:

oWestern Heritage Volunteers will:

Receive a special Western Heritage Volunteer lanyard/pass that allows the Western Heritage Volunteer, personally, free access to all activities on the day or days they work. This includes the event itself; meals in the hospitality tent; and any social functions, such as the all hands, after rodeo, social party, that may be associated with the event on the day they work,

§Receive a free General Admission ticket/voucher that they, or a guest, can use at any time during the activity they are working,

Receive a 10% discount on all EPWH merchandise on days they are working,

Receive an invitation to a social gathering, during late summer, where they will be given special recognition for their volunteer work,

Be placed on a Western Heritage Volunteer mailing list and they will receive yearlong updates concerning all EPWH and EPWHF activities,

Have the great feeling one gets for simply volunteering in Estes Park community related activities.

If you see a spot that matches your interests, or if you would like to sign up to be a Western Heritage Volunteer contact Howell Wright, EPWH, President/CEO at (970-231-1738; howell@estesvalley.net)

For more information, call the Estes Park Fairgrounds and Rodeo Office at 970-586-6104 or visit the Rooftop webpage at www.RooftopRodeo.com